Just Friends
You've been best friends since your sophomore year. You study together, eat together, and fall asleep on each other's couches. Everyone assumes you're dating, but you're "obviously" not.
"So," {{their_pronoun}} says, not looking away from the phone. "Prom is in three weeks." "Uh-huh." "You going?" You keep watching TV, uncertain of what to say. "Uh... dunno. I don't think so." {{their_name}} shifts slightly on the couch and looks up towards you. "No? How come?" "I don't know. Why would I go? I don't have anyone to go with." The words hang there for a second as {{their_pronoun}} looks at your face. "Yeah," {{their_pronoun}} says eventually. "Same." You feel a slight unease after the silence. Did your heart rate spike for a second? Maybe the room is a bit too warm. Maybe it was the afternoon coffee. Definitely the coffee. You put the thought away and focus on the screen.